DignityEggers emphasizes that the chief cost of disaster--be it natural or man-made--is the way it robs individuals of their dignity. Both victims and those who abused their power lose a sense of humanity. After Hurricane Katrina, Zeitoun observes that although the old woman he rescues will survive the storm, she has lost her dignity. When he himself is imprisoned, he objects the most to procedures which dehumanize him and efface his dignity, such as the strip searches and being served pork, which is forbidden in Islam. Independently of the hurricane, Kathy appreciates Islam because she believes its principles of purity and chastity endow women with dignity. Indeed, her worst encounters with prejudice are ones where her dignity is affronted--for example, when a teenager tries to pull of her hijab, or her sister refuses to shelter Adnan and Abeer because they are Muslim.

IslamophobiaAlthough it turns out that the police who arrest Zeitoun are not actually racist, Eggers makes it clear that Islamophobia influenced Zeitoun's experiences during Katrina (as well as the family's life before). While in prison, Zeitoun is accused of being a member of both al Qaeda and the Taliban. Meanwhile, Kathy's hijab causes tensions between her and her sisters, with whom she stays during the storm. Eggers acknowledged in an interview that one of the purposes of the book was to combat Islamophobia by showing Americans that Muslims are "average people" just like themselves (Whitman). Especially in portraying Zeitoun's familial experiences in Syria, Eggers paints a complete picture of a man who is more than the sum of his faith or country of origin.

Bearing witnessOne of the reasons that Zeitoun wishes to stay in New Orleans is so he can bear witness to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina. This compulsion is depicted in different ways throughout the novel, ranging from childlike exploration to an unbearable duty. Indeed, Zeitoun itself can be read as an act of...

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...﻿Tayna Silveira
Period 6
Mrs. Macwillam
Book Review
Zeitoun
1- In the notes about this book, Eggers explains that the book is based on the accounts of Abdulrahman
and Kathy Zeitoun. What does the story gain by reflecting only the Zeitoun family's view of the events?
What might be lost in such an approach?
The story gains by reflecting only theZeitoun family's view of the events mainly because of the
discrimination that Zeitoun had to go through during the Hurricane Katrinna, by the simple reason that
Zeitoun is a muslim man, they accused him and his two friends, of being part of the AlQaeda. The
American police – military or a higher power – imprisoned them by their religion and did not give them
their right to a phone call or a lawyer. “ Zeitoun was pushed toward the front door. The other officers
had already gathered Ronnie and Nasser onto an enormous fan boat. It was a military craft, far bigger
than any other boat Zeitoun had seen since the storm. There were at least two officers pointing
automatic rifles at them. (Eggers, 207).” I believe that Eggers wanted to highlight the discrimination
that immigrants still going through in this country, besides their beliefs or their skin color.
2-Evaluate Eggers' use of research in his...

...the information provided in Zeitoun by Dave Eggers is very misleading. “The true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disaster: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina” is what the back of the book reads (Eggers). While the book does mention the struggle of living with racism against Muslims in America and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it is hardly about family. The main character of this novel is AbdulrahmanZeitoun, a Muslim man who resides in New Orleans. Though his work ethic is second-to-none, he is also stubborn and bullheaded which sometimes causes him to cloud his better judgment. When Hurricane Katrina was at its peak, a mandatory evacuation was issued, but Zeitoun decided to stay behind and care for the properties his company, Zeitoun Painting Contractors LLC, works on. His wife and children take the precautionary measures and evacuate. This causes a separation from them. Since Zeitoun does not demonstrate the true meaning of family and cares more for his self-interest, he cannot be portrayed as a hero.
Generally, it is accepted that families are headed by a strong male figure; this is no different in Zeitoun's family. “So without a captain, the ship cannot navigate...Look above you, at the stars and moon. How do the stars keep their place in the sky, how does the moon rotate around the earth, the earth around the sun? Who’s navigating?”...

... Power of Community and Family
The book “Zeitoun”, written by Dave Eggers is a description of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, and how it altered the lives of certain people. His book takes the point of view of the Zeitouns, who are one of the many in New Orleans. Occupants whose lives were affected by the hurricane. The author shows how close Abdulrahman Zeitoun (the focus of the story) is with his family and how this relates to the love he has for his community. . Dave Eggers also portrays how the tragedy of hurricane Katrina, really caused family ties to strengthen and deteriorate. It is also seen how communities came together or fell apart. The author does not directly argue a case or a social comment in the topic of family and community, but depicts how crucial they can be in times of difficulty through the example of the Zeitouns and the other inhabitants of New Orleans.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun is a man who was born in Syria and migrated to New Orleans to settle. He runs a successful construction company and is well known around the city of New Orleans. From the very beginning of the story the author begins to reveal to the readers Zeitoun’s character and the importance of family to him. In the beginning of the book, Eggers uses the fishing trips Zeitoun was a part of as an example of his love for his family....

...Despite warnings of evacuation, Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting company in New Orleans, chose to stay when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. During his canoe trip journey after Katrina, Zeitoun encountered many people who were trapped in their homes and in need of his help. Risking his life to save others, Zeitoun was falsely accused of stealing and dealing drugs because of his race. InZeitoun, Dave Eggers portrays the view that America has towards Muslim people and how people are treated unjustly simply because of how they look.
A few days after Katrina hit, the levees broke, leaving the trapped civilians in shock and poverty. People who remained in the city had little resources, causing many people to break into other homes and stores to find whatever they can to survive. Zeitoun sailed on his canoe around the city and helped people who were trapped in their homes, including two dogs that were left behind by their owners. He felt that he was unable to leave his business because he felt responsible for the damaged houses throughout the duration of the storm. Also, Zeitoun felt that his home was "worth fighting for" (70) Zeitoun believed that by staying in New Orleans, he felt as if this opportunity was given to him by God to help the people who were still trapped in the city.
The National Guards showed up at Zeitoun’s...

...Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, is a book that illustrates one man’s faith when faced with a disaster. Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the main character of the story, is a devout Muslim who strongly believes in God. He was born and grew up in Jableh, Syria, where he worked as a sailor for many years before migrating to New Orleans, Louisiana. Abdulrahman believes that everything happens for a reason, and feels a duty to serve his God and live out his purpose. He established his own painting contractor business called the Zeitoun A. Painting contractor LLC, where he lives in New Orleans, Louisiana with his wife Kathy and their four children. Abdulrahman grew up to be a skillful man due to his exposure to several different professions that took place in his hometown Jableh. He apprenticed with fishing, ship rigging, painting, masonry, plumbing, roofing, and tile work. The character trait that dominates Abdulrahman Zeitoun is diligence.
An example of Abdulrahman’s diligence was when he went to work one day on his bicycle and got a flat tire. His only option left while having to get four miles across the city in twenty minutes was to run to work. He threw his bicycle over his shoulders and began to run. He figured that he could not be late, and his boss even mentioned that he could have easily used an excuse, but Zeitoun still ran down the streets of New Orleans with a bicycle on his back in order to get to work. Even when...

...Steven Massie
Mr. Bevier
AP English Language AA/BB
1 September 2012
Corruption in New Orleans
In Zeitoun written and published by Abdulrahman Zeitoun and Dave Eggers, the most powerful assertion made is that the government was corrupt during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. This allegation is unfortunately accurate. Many citizens were left stranded in their homes, while the government gave orders to arrest innocent men and women who were still in the city of New Orleans, which also lead to the establishment of many corrupt government programs.
To start, the author supports his statement by including information of citizens who were left hopeless at their homes. Some citizens waited on their rooftops, while others waited on their front porch. On Thursday September 1st, 2005 Abdulrahman Zeitoun paddled throughout the city determined to help save stranded citizens. He went house to house and reported to the National Guard where and who needed to be rescued. At his first encounter with a soldier, he was told he could not be helped. However, while talking to another soldier he was told everything would be taken care of and the citizens would be helped. Unfortunately, help did not come to everyone. “Alvin and Beulah were still there, on the porch, bags still ready, a light rain still falling on them. They had been waiting for four hours” (Dave Eggers 137). This passage further proves only one example of citizens who...

...Zeitoun was a hero. In Zeitoun, author Dave Eggers narrates the story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun the Syrian-American owner of a painting and contracting company in New Orleans, Louisiana who chose to ride out Hurricane Katrina in his Uptown home. However, in 2005 Katrina was a hurricane no one was prepared for and, for those who lived in Louisiana, New Orleans, it was nothing short of a disaster. Many residents left their homes in search of shelter from the approaching hurricane. While some residents stayed behind to protect their homes and valuables, others who were not physically capable to evacuate.
Zeitoun and a 3 other men were arrested in one of his rental properties without any reason or explanation by a mixed group of U.S. Army National Guard soldiers and local policemen. Finally, they were made aware they are being charged with looting, all four of them, according to the officer driving the van, giving them the reason for their detainment, he stated an officer witnessed all four of them leaving a Walgreens with non-purchased goods.During that time he and the others arrested with Zeitoun was accused of terrorist activity apparently because of religion, the large amount of money found on their possession and maps of the city and storage disc, they were given food and drinks during the stay at the Greyhound Camp, and Zeitoun was refused medical attention and the use of a phone to alert...

...Marcellus Lopez
Mr. Buckley
Honors American Literature
September 20, 2011
Abdulrahman Zeitoun, Not Clark Kent
Zeitoun, a fantastic novel by author Dave Eggers is a heroic tale of faith and courage set during Hurricane Katrina of August 2005, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The hardy protagonist of the chronicle is Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian man, living in Louisiana with his wife, Kathy, and his three daughters and stepson.Zeitoun, a former sailor, used to storms and seas, at the time of the hurricane owned a contracting business, building, repairing, and painting. Zeitoun's heroism and bravery have made very clear to me that being a hero is … well, really damned stupid. If not that, then at the very least, being a hero is inadvisable and unwise.
Zeitoun went far out of his way to help others in a whirlwind of charity and self-assurance. In doing so, he caused great damage to himself and those closest to him. Zeitoun went above and beyond what was asked of him to assist members of his community, ignoring the one thing asked of him by his worried wife, who demanded he evacuate with her and the family. Just as he had gotten into the momentum of routinely feeding some dogs abandoned by their owners daily, Zeitoun was arrested under false charges, rendering him unable to contact Kathy. His absence left his family distressed and disoriented. Kathy panicked...